Modern Classical Thought

No society can truly ever be perfect. Throughout history, philosophers have tried to create their ideal systems of how governments should be run, from the order-focused society of Plato to the Leviathan-ruled populace of Thomas Hobbes. Each of these systems, while all influential to our ideas today, remain incomplete. Their flaws lie not in their mighty ambition but in their views of how human nature is on its own. Because humans are naturally imperfect, any system they create will therefore share the same fate. Therefore, the goal of a society should be balance, not perfection. This system of balance should minimize harm, distribute power, and promote stability and prosperity while recognizing its own limitations.  

This proposal imagines a society that is grounded in the imperfections of humanity. It argues that humans are neither truly good nor evil, and that the government they create must reflect this reality. This system does not imagine a flawless utopia, but as a morally grounded framework for the semi-ideal society.  

Human Nature 

Any theory of government should begin with human nature, as many have in the past. For as long as philosophers have been proposing ideal societies, they have been questioning whether or not humans are inherently violent or peaceful. I reject both extremes. In the state of nature, humans likely existed in small, cooperative groups that relied on one another for survival. At the same time, they were fully capable of violence when necessary to protect themselves and their groups. Overall, like other modern-day apes, humans were both social and defensive. They were peaceful in their cooperation, but violent when they had to defend themselves.  

Jean-Jacques Rousseau once argued that humanity became corrupt through the development of property and other organized institutions in society. While I do think Rousseau is capturing an important truth in human nature, I still believe his view is incomplete. Violence and self-preservation existed long before property was ever thought of. However, I do think it is true that the emergence of structured societies intensified these things. Therefore, civilization did not create greed or conflict but rather amplified them into the way we see them today.  

These points lead to a crucial conclusion: in order for a society to be truly successful, it must account for both cooperation and self-interest, just as early humans did. It must allow for not only freedom, but trust. Most importantly, however, it needs to prevent a deeper concentration of power that can take advantage of human weakness.  

The Ideal Government Structure 

In order to address the dual nature of humanity, I propose a unique system of distributed executive power. The government would be composed of three branches, a bicameral legislature, a judicial body, and a reimagined executive different from the ones we have today. 

The legislature and supreme court would mirror that of the United States. Two chambers to create laws that would be signed into law by the executive, and a judicial authority to judge the constitutionality of all laws and decisions.  

The big departure from the American style of government lies in the executive branch. Instead of a single president, executive power would be shared among ten individuals, or the “10 Servants.” Each of these Servants would be directly elected by the people through a ranked-choice voting system, where voters get to rank their candidates in order of best to worst instead of voting for one person individually. This helps to reduce political extremism and gives more candidates a chance to come to power. All ten would serve equal roles as Servants while also serving as head of a governmental department.  

This structure should hold true that no one person should wield excessive executive power. Given the imperfect nature of humanity, concentrating authority in one person creates far too much a risk, as we have seen in many dictatorships over the years. By distributing power among ten equal individuals, this system will encourage cooperation, the limiting of abuse, and service of the people they were elected by.  

The Servants would all serve two terms of five years. They could be removed by a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress. In the event of a vacancy, Congress would nominate a replacement, to which the remaining Servants would vote on their confirmation. This process helps to keep Servants accountable while also preserving the continuity of their power.  

While this system is admittedly slow at decision-making, such delays are not inherently negative. Delay and compromise on decision-making is essential in creating the best laws possible for the people. It helps to prevent potentially harmful or poorly considered laws. Therefore, a slower government is the safest option.  

Rights and Freedoms 

A just society must protect the rights of the people, especially individual rights. This proposed society adopts principles similar to those outlined in the United States Bill of Rights. This includes freedom of religion, speech, press, and trials.  

At the core of this system is the harm principle, originally proposed by John Stuart Mill. According to the harm principle, individuals should be free to act as they wish, as long as they do not harm others in the process. This allows for personal freedom while also maintain social responsibility and safety. Citizens of this society should be free to take risks and live according to their own values. But this should never come at anyone else’s expense.  

Education 

Education is the most vital part of any society. Without education, a society has no pillars of knowledge to stand upon. A strong federal role in education helps to ensure that all students across the nation have an equal education, regardless of where they are or what state they may live in. This helps to eliminate differences in education between regions and provides every student with an equal starting point.  

Despite a strong sense of equality in everyone’s education, this state would still allow for an option between public and private schools and universities. This helps to preserve one’s choice in education while still maintaining a national standard for all citizens. Higher education would be made more affordable, but not entirely free. This helps keep the market of higher education competitive but affordable.  

The purpose of education should also extend far beyond career preparation. It needs to develop informed citizens that are capable of participating in a democratic society such as this one. Without equal access to education, true equality of opportunity will never exist.  

Workers’ Rights 

This ideal society will operate within a capitalist framework, allowing for competition among all markets across the state. However, an ideal state would enforce significant protections for its workers. While the capitalist market should encourage innovation and economic growth, balanced policies are needed to ensure the well-being of the workforce.  

This state would include a generous and guaranteed minimum wage, expanded sick and maternity leave, and the possibility of a three-day weekend if feasible. These policies, even though they would require some time to be figured out and enforced, would reflect that economic success should not come at the price of human dignity.  

Limitations of the System and Other Brief Points 

While this societal framework aims to balance power and fairness, it is not without its flaws. The shared executive model may lead to political gridlock, especially if the Ten Servants consistently fail to reach conclusions. Additionally, the absence of any emergency powers could also hinder rapid responses in times of crisis.  

However, these limitations are intentional and arguably necessary. This system aims to promote the prevention of tyranny over rapid efficiency. The risks associated with centralized power, such as the development of a dictatorship or oligarchy, are considered far more destructive than the delays caused by slow decision-making. This reflects that no society can eliminate all its flaws, but it can eliminate which risks it is willing to take.  

Conclusion 

An ideal society cannot be perfect because it is built by imperfect people. The purpose of political philosophy, therefore, is not to imagine a system without flaws, but rather a system that best manages humanity’s strengths and weaknesses. By recognizing the dual nature of humanity, distributing power, protecting individual rights, and prioritizing equal opportunity, this model helps offer a more balanced approach to government.  

While this ideal system may not solve every problem, it strongly seeks to prevent the most dangerous ones. It accepts a fundamental truth: society is not about pursuing perfection, but rather for achieving the best balance possible.